Barbarians squad announced

Scotland's coach Andy Robinson takes charge of a Barbarians' squad drawn from six different countries for the match against Loughborough Students on Wednesday 9 May (7.30pm). The Students, newly promoted to English National One for next season, invited the Barbarians for the special match to open their new grandstand at Holywell Park.
Robinson, an ex-Loughborough student who captained the university to victory in the UAU Final at Twickenham in 1986, also captained the Barbarians three times in his playing days.
He said, "It is a great honour for me to be invited to coach the Barbarians and especially to go back to a university which holds such special memories."
Included in the Barbarians' 22-man squad are Japan's Rugby World Cup fly-half James Arlidge, stalwart Premiership props Duncan Bell and Chris Budgen, and former Great Britain rugby league star Sean Long.
Also in the squad are the top points and try scorers in English National One for the season, Rory Teague and Philip Chesters respectively.
Among former Barbarians accepting return invitations are Nottingham Rugby's Kiwi duo Craig Hammond and Joe Duffey, Cardiff Blues' flanker Josh Navidi, and scrum-halves Chris Pilgrim (another Loughborough graduate) and Nick Runciman.

Barbarians' squad:
Backs - *Fraser Thomson (Melrose), John Rudd (Rosslyn Park), *Philip Chesters (Ealing Trailfinders), *Nathan Brew (Neath & Wales), *Sean Long (Preston Grasshoppers & Great Britain RL), *Rory Teague (Cinderford), Ross Broadfoot (Jersey), *James Arlidge (Nottingham Rugby & Japan), Nick Runciman (Gloucester Rugby), Chris Pilgrim (Newcastle Falcons)
Forwards - *Chris Budgen (Exeter Chiefs), *Duncan Bell (Bath Rugby & England), Ben Evans (Jersey & Wales), Joe Duffey (Nottingham Rugby), Finlay Gillies (Glasgow Rugby), *Will Warden (Richmond), Craig Hammond (Nottingham Rugby), *Haydn Pugh (Carmarthen Quins), *Rob Malaney (Cambridge University), *Andrew Thomas (Carmarthen Quins), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), *John Carter (Oxford University)
[* - denotes new Barbarian]

Loughborough Students v Barbarians
Holywell Park - Wednesday 9 May - kick-off 7.30pm
Tickets available from Loughborough University

like to see this game - obviously pleased about the jersey representation, but also that it's a really good cross-section, an interesting mix of players including some international (league and union) and some stalwarts from the prem. sure the front row union reunion alone will make for a lively post-match buzz. some ex-loughborough players there inc warden and pilgrim, and of course andy robinson in the dug-out. hope it goes well...

Would expect to see Robinson's son in the Luffbra side too.

Edited by hammer - 01 May 2012 at 08:24

No offence meant and not about Long being an old stager as my initial comment demonstrates.

JonDee wrote: Also you don,t know how many players who have dedicated themselves to R Union were invited but had to turn down the invite, due to injury /work/family commitments.    Many are invited but a lot cannot make the commitment

islander wrote: see your point hammer. but don't agree with it.

would be interested in any updates/ scoreflashes reports on this one, including but not restricted to the 2 jersey representatives. ben evans got a 20-min breather at the end of the siam cup game v guernsey last saturday, so should be fighting fit (at 36 he's the youngest prop in the squad!). fly-half ross broadfoot (one of 3 10s in the original squad) came off with a couple of minutes to go with a slight leg knock but was confident he'd be fine...

Edited by islander - 09 May 2012 at 16:03

walkingonwater wrote: It's being streamed on the Loughborough SU site - head to the Loughborough Rugby homepage for more details.

 

Looking a tough game for Luffbra and no Barbarians rugby spirit in sight from them - Budgeon I think mugged Dowsett well off the ball.

Finished 40-7 to the Barbarians, tries from Long, Budgen (2), Chesters, Broadfoot that I can remember. Long named MoM by LSUTVRugby. Excellent stream of the game, new set up at Luff looks very impressive.